All images copyright Michele Kisley 2019

   For the first time in memory a large group of commercial gallery owners and non-profit arts organization directors/curators met in one place to discuss the Rochester regional art market. The meeting was convened by Rochester Art Collectors and took place on Thursday, February 7th at RIT's newly opened  City Art Space in downtown Rochester. A similar (albeit smaller and more exclusive group consisting only of commercial gallerists) was convened by Rochester Art Collectors and held at Axom Gallery and Exhibition Space in April, 2018. The goal of these meetings is to help foster a spirit of cooperation in support of growing the art market and enhancing the art scene in our area.

   Leaders from the following organizations participated on February 7th: 1975 Gallery, Artshow.org, Axom Gallery & Exhibition Space, Bausch + Lomb Corporate Gallery, Ceramics Gallery at Flower City Arts Center, Chase The Art, Colleen Buzzard Studio Gallery, Create Art 4 Good, Flower City Arts Center, Gallery Q, Geisel Gallery, Genesee Valley Council On The Arts, Joel Sapienza, Kristen Campo Fine Arts, Lumiere Gallery, Makers Gallery and Studio, Memorial Art Gallery Gallery Shop, Michael Deming Antiques, Oxford Gallery, Phillips Fine Art & Frame Gallery, RIT City Arts Space, RIT Events Office, RIT Shop One, Rochester Contemporary Arts Center, Print Club of Rochester, Patricia O'Keefe Gallery at St. John Fisher College, Roslyn Goldman, UUU Art Collective, University Gallery at RIT, Whitman Works, and The Yards Collective.

   It should be noted that all the organizations represented at the meeting offer art for sale at their locations. Some of the venues represented operate on a for profit basis while others are legally recognized as not-for-profit organizations. The discussion centered on ways to work together.  The agenda for the meeting was generated by the participants prior to the meeting and then approved by the entire group on the night of the meeting.

   Roz Goldman spoke to the group at the outset of the meeting about her experiences as a gallerist and leader of the Rochester Area Art Dealers (RAAD) group from years past. Unfortunately, Roz had to make another appointment and left after her presentation. Following Roz's presentation we did introductions around the room the group engaged in a general conversation about the regional art market followed by a deep dive into areas of common interest and ways the participants might work together. There was a brief conversation about the potential for programs with a regional reach. Time ran out before the group could consider ideas about developing a series of awards recognizing individual artistic achievement on a yearly basis and before an update on recent actions to secure more public funding for the arts in Rochester. The meeting ended with a summary of action items moving forward.*

   The following is an executive summary of the conversation and, in some case, next steps:

1. Roslyn Goldman's presentation on the now defunct Rochester Area Art Dealers group inspired many of the for-profit commercial gallery owners. There seemed to be support from commercial owners to work more closely together in the areas of marketing & promotion;  particularly in terms of potential cooperative themes like what used to be called "Galleries Week". In addition, there may be interest in ongoing collaborations between these business competitors vis-à-vis reviving an informal association of art galleries/dealers.
2. The group was divided about the development in a large scale, high end, cooperative "art fair" in Rochester. Kristen Campo described her first-ever "Contemporary Art Fair Of Rochester" event that took place last November at the Strathallen Hotel in Rochester as a success and worth repeating. She may be willing to work with others on a expanded art fair in 2019. Bleu Cease, director of Rochester Contemporary Art Center, secured a location that may be suitable for an art fair (under very favorable terms) while he was in the process of developing an ambitious program involving two other medium sized not-for-profit art centers scheduled for October and November of 2019 called "Current Seen: Big Ideas, Small Venues." There was considerable discussion around the practical costs and likely benefits of an art fair. Some spoke enthusiastically in favor of the idea while others were skeptical. More than one venue owner was passionately opposed to the idea for practical reasons. A small group interested in the idea of an art fair this fall will explore the prospects more thoroughly and share information with others as their work unfolds. It may also be possible to coordinate a "Galleries Week" type promotion in coordination with "Current Seen: Big Ideas, Small Venues" program later this year.
3. There was little appetite in the room for building a regional art presence through cooperative programming with galleries and arts organizations in nearby counties at this time. ​

​   For it's part, Rochester Art Collectors supports local galleries and non-profit arts venues collaborating on as many levels as they feel comfortable. The group also supports the development of a large scale, high visibility, high quality art fair in our area. Rochester Art Collectors continues to believe in the value of regional cooperation and will continue to support efforts in that direction as well.

Rochester: Makers Gallery is in transition.

   Over the past several years artist and gallerist, Alex Gruttadaro, developed one of the more exciting and successful hybrid commercial art galleries in our area on the third floor of 34 Elton Street in Rochester. In addition to running the gallery he also ran a coffee bar and an event venue out of the same space. Sales in the gallery were strong. His event business was so good he suspended the coffee bar business to make more room in the calendar for events.

   His business successes, however, came at a price. According to Alex, the demands of running an active gallery, coffee bar and event space consumed all of his time leaving very little for his own creative and personal pursuits. As a result, at least for the time being, Alex has recently returned the Makers commercial gallery space back into his private art studio.

   Alex has not ruled out re-imagining a new sort of gallery informed by his experiences with Makers or even re-launching Makers Gallery. While a new gallery may appear before too long it won't be before Alex has had a chance to immerse himself in his art and his family. Stay tuned!

Rochester: RIT City Art Space is open.

   RIT's new City Art Space, at 280 Main Street (in the former Sibley's department store building), opened with a large private celebration on Thursday, December 10th. The new gallery opened to the public on Friday in time to take advantage of the December "First Friday" exposure.

   City Art Space is a significant upgrade in exhibition space combined with a dramatic re-branding as compared to prior iterations of RIT's "Gallery R" spaces - first on Park Avenue and then on College Avenue near the Memorial Art Gallery. The new gallery has large windows that look out on Rochester's famous Liberty Pole sculpture, designed by James Johnson, as well as main street giving the space a big city feel.

   According to their press release, City Art Space is a premier exhibition venue for RIT students, faculty, alumni and more. It is also a site for experiential learning for students across RIT’s College of Art and Design and beyond. The gallery will serve as a preeminent venue for the College Art and Design, which houses six schools: Art, American Crafts, Design, Film & Animation, Media Sciences, and Photographic Arts & Sciences. RIT faculty, staff and students from all six schools contribute their time and talent to sustain the gallery’s exhibition programming, and students gain valuable experience working in a professional gallery setting.

   City Art Space is open to the public during regular hours. Although I didn't see any notices to this effect, if City Art Space follows Gallery R's policies, there will be no admission fee to get into the gallery. As in the past much of the work shown in the gallery will be offered for sale.

Rochester: 1975 Gallery has re-emerged in a new format.

   After a three year hiatus 1975 Gallery re-emerged in pop-up form in the fall of 2018 with a sizable Halloween themed group show titled "Dearly Departed". Both the location on South Avenue next to Surface Salon and the theme were carefully chosen to reflect back on the gallery's roots. 2018 marked ten years since gallerist, Erich Lehman, launched 1975 as a pop-up inside Surface on the opposite side of South Avenue from this year's exhibition. 1975 Gallery gave up their bricks-and-mortar commercial retail location on Pitkin Street behind the Harts Local Grocery after five years in 2015.

   Lehman says Dearly Departed was successful. Hundreds of patrons packed the gallery on opening night and sales were brisk even though the exhibition lingered only six days and had very limited hours. Sales from the show continued even after the exhibition officially closed. He may post some or all of the unsold works from the show on 1975's website before too long. 

   In addition to holding down a full time day job at RIT Lehman is also the co-curator and core organizer behind Rochester's internationally renowned public art project Wall\Therapy.  Given his time limitations It's not surprising he thinks about 1975 Gallery's future strategically. While another traditional retail location isn't in the picture for 1975 Gallery at the moment other plans for the gallery are apparently in the works. We understand Lehman is working on an even more ambitious 1975 pop-up exhibition in the first half of 2019.

Honeyoe Falls:  Fleuron is open.

   Fleuron opened their doors at in the center of the Village of Honeoye Falls at 10 North Main Street in June of 2018. This new retail venture has it's home in a charming early twentieth century storefront with big windows. Fleuron is what we think of as a "hybrid" commercial gallery. In this instance the fine art gallery is nestled between a botanical boutique at the front of the shop and a small graphic design work space tucked away behind the gallery, up a small flight of stairs.

   You might ask, why the name Fleuron? Well, fleuron is a French word meaning, “horticultural ornament”. It comes from the centuries old typographic and printing traditions that date back to the Renaissance. When you learn more about the owner, Lisa Mauro, and her vision you'll understand why that particular word is a perfect descriptor.

  Mauro received her BFA from Parsons School of Design and an MFA from Rochester Institute of Technology. In addition to operating the gallery she has a graphic design business and she teaches graphic design at Nazareth College. That's not all. She is not only an avid maker she is also an avid grower. The front of the shop features her own organically grown, fresh specialty cut flowers available from May–October. So, she has married her advanced education in the arts with her passion for graphic design and gardening.

   The gallery will mostly focus on contemporary artists living in the Rochester-Finger Lakes region. Exhibitions will rotate on a more-or-less monthly basis. Some shows will feature one artist while others may have a theme with the sort of call-for-work, jurying and curation that goes along with group exhibitions. In addition to living artists the gallery also offers fine art prints by notable national and international artists from the mid-twentieth century.

Pittsford Village: Sylvan Starlight Creations is open.

   Sylvan Starlight Creations, open since the summer of 2018, is an artisan gallery and fine art shop located in the Village of Pittsford at the eastern end of Schoen Place.

​   The business features the fine artwork and exquisite craftsmanship of more than 60 of the area's top local artists.  There is always a lot to see inside the shop: from fine art & paintings to jewelry, metal art, home decor and so much more!  They offer a wide range of mediums, styles and prices, There is always something for everyone in this lovely village shop.

   One or more local artist/artisan will be highlighted monthly with an exhibition and an opening party to kick off the show. The retail space will be shared with dozens of other local artists and artisans day in and day out so you don't have to wait until you see an artist of interest. Stop in anytime.

Rochester: Rochester Fantasy Art Gallery is open.

   The proprietor, Thomas C. Chaffer, saw a "fantasy art" niche and decided to fill it. Chaffer had been doing Art Instruction for over 6 years based out of a space in Fairport before moving to the new location in the City of Rochester at 873 Atlantic Avenue. He opened his doors about a month ago.

   His plan is to show artwork that falls between "fine art" and fantasy/science fiction illustration. He is beginning by showing Rochester-based artists and that will certainly continue. However, he also plans to expand the scope of art on exhibit to include works made all over the United States; including work done by widely recognized masters in the fantasy/science fiction genre. Although the exhibition space itself is fairly modest in size there's a congenial outdoor area for warm weather entertaining. Chaffer's studio is located just behind the public space.

    Before too long the gallery website (www.rochesterfantasyartgallery.com) should include lots of additional information about the new venue.

Nan Miller Gallery has re-emerged in a new format.

   One of Rochester's longest running commercial galleries, Nan Miller Gallery, closed it's only bricks-and-mortar storefront near the end of 2017. At that time gallerist, Nan Miller, indicated she was retiring from the business after decades of service to corporate clients and individual collectors across the globe. We recently learned Nan Miller has decided to re-launch without the burden of a full blown commercial retail location so that she can continue to represent artists and act as an art advisor.  Nan has retained her former website and domain name to more easily reconnect with her long established client base.

   As of 2018, Miller represents a select stable of her favorite artists who encompass a broad range of styles, mediums and price points. She educates clients about artists’ techniques and how their artwork relates to collecting in today’s market, as well accommodating their specific needs. Nan specializes in artwork not readily accessible to the area, such as images by Modern Masters, renowned metal sculpture, cutting-edge glass, wood and mix-media designs.

   Nan has served as a key player in the art industry for 45 years. Her former retail location was the longest running family-owned art gallery in Rochester.

Kristen Campo Fine Art has opened.

   When the Nan Miller Gallery closed its bricks-and-mortar retail location late in 2017 Kristen Campo, one of Nan's longtime employees, decided it was time to step up. She had worked under Nan for more than a decade. Kristen knew the business from the inside and she had a good base of experience to draw from as she set out in 2018. In addition to working in a gallery Kristen is an established interior designer with an active client base, Incorporating artwork into her design practice has been a mainstay.

   Kristen Campo Fine Art does not have a retail location. Instead Campo has focused on bringing a wide array of established and emerging Contemporary artists to her current design clientele and to the art buying public through art fairs at various locations around the country.

   Campo realized a visionary goal in 2018 by organizing and presenting what she referred to as the first Contemporary Art Fair of Rochester in November at the Strathallan on East Avenue. By her count near 1,000 people filed through this the Fair over a three day period. She is currently planning a follow-up for  2019.

Canandaigua: Jeanne Beck Art Gallery & Studio is in transition.

   Jeanne Beck opened her gallery and studio in June of 2017 with a vision: to combine a her own art studio with a pubic gallery & exhibition space in the City of Canandaigua. She also wanted very much to help to make non-objective, non-representational and abstract artwork more accessible to the public and to collectors. It seemed to her that representational art is more widely accepted and abstract art is less well accepted in our region. 

   Her second floor unit, located on Main Street between Phoenix and Beeman Streets, was notable not only because of it's beautiful exposed brick walls and views of downtown Canandaigua but also because her studio work space was entirely open into the public exhibition space. Visitors were commonly treated to both works in progress as well as finished works created by many local artists.

   As time went on Jeanne expanded the scope of her endeavor beyond mere exhibitions into the realm of workshops and demonstrations on topics such as encaustic painting. In addition, she hosted "residency" programs for local artists that resulted in collaborative artworks that were then displayed.

   Late in 2018 Jeanne decided she was no longer able to balance her own creative interests with running the gallery. She will retain the space as her studio in 2019 and may well offer exhibitions in the future but she will not operate as a proper gallery for the time being.

Clifton Springs: Main Street Arts has converted into a nonprofit arts organization.

   Main Street Arts was created in 2013 as a for-profit art gallery in Clifton Springs, New York; a thirty-five minute drive from downtown Rochester. The Main Street management team developed a strong business selling art and then added a range of community-based arts programs including everything from workshops for area students to full-on artist residency programs alongside programs for non-artists. Over time it became clear to the director, Bradley Butler, that in order to fill the enormous needs/interests they uncovered Main Street would best serve their community by converting to a nonprofit arts organization.

   In an email to it's customers and friends on Monday, December 24, 2018 Main Street Arts announced the conversion to nonprofit status has been completed. Effective immediately Main Street Arts is a legally recognized nonprofit arts organization. As a result, donations to the new organization will be tax deductible, if you qualify and itemize your charitable donations. In addition, Main Street will be able to apply for grants from the government as well as other sources that require nonprofit status.

   ​Main Street Arts has had a strong regional orientation from its inception. On occasion the gallery supplemented it's regional offerings with artists from all over the United States. Looking forward, based on their new mission statement, it appears they expect to reach even further to include artistic works from all over the globe.

   Ten artists from the region are listed on the Main Street Arts website as being represented by the gallery: Pat Bacon, Chad Grohman, Patrick Kana, Meredith Mallwitz, Robert Ernst Marx, Lanna Pejovic, Jody Selin, Mike Tarantelli and Sylvia Taylor. It's not common for nonprofit arts organizations to represent individual artists. We'll have to wait-and-see if Main Street continues to represent these artists under it's new auspices.

Have Hope Tattoo and Gallery has opened.

   There's a new alternative art gallery at New Hope Tattoo and Gallery. The tattoo parlor opened in August of 2018. The first art art exhibition was held in September. To get to the dedicated gallery space inside New Hope you go past the reception area and down some stairs to the lower level.

  When you walk into the gallery you'll be impressed by the look. There are no white walls in this gallery. Instead New Hope has designed the space with what looks like reclaimed barn wood to match the finishes upstairs in the reception area.

   The business owner, Zach Wheeler, says he'll either curate what's shown in the gallery himself or collaborate as well as invite outside curators to plug in. He expects exhibitions to cycle in and out every couple of months or so.

   Even though Rochester Art Collectors has only been in existence for nine months our group has offered twenty-one programs with the help of seventeen partner organizations. All but two of the programs were free to attendees. "Lure Of The Local," a panel discussion developed in collaboration with the Memorial Art Gallery, and "Think globally. Create, experience and collect locally," done in partnership with Rochester Contemporary, both required an admission fee to those who were not already members of those institutions.

   We don't have an exact count but we believe our programs exposed attendees to several hundred artists' works for sale over the course of 2018. Generally speaking we try to hold our events inside of galleries during group exhibitions so attendees can both see and purchase works of art as well as pick up a little education. Event attendees were informed on a wide array of topics at our events including understanding and collecting glass, ceramics, and photography to printmaking, and more. All but five of our programs were open to the public.

   Our five member-only programs in 2018 fell into two categories: "Collectors Circles" and "Collectors Previews".  Members participating in a "Collector Circle" event may bring a piece of art from their collection created by someone other than themselves to talk about with the group. In addition, we have a guest speaker present information of interest to collectors. Usually we hold "Collectors Circle" events in a gallery during a group show. Members were also invited to three "Collectors Preview" events.  Every so often we are able to gain access to exhibitions BEFORE the show is open to the public thereby providing members an opportunity to see and purchase works of art before the general public.

Here's the list of program events held in 2018. The most recent events are shown at the top.
​

• Social Mixer at The Strathallan | Contemporary Art Fair of Rochester | KC Fine Art Gallery | FREE
• Dick Bennett on Collecting Photography | Image City Gallery | FREE
• Collectors Preview Party! Big Show of Small Works | Lumiere Gallery | Members Only | FREE
• Erich Lehman on The Art Of The Pop-Up | 1975 Gallery | FREE
• ​Collectors Circle | Oxford Gallery | Members Only | FREE
• Creating & Collecting Glass | More Fire Glass | FREE
• Social Mixer + Panel Presentation: "Lure Of The Local" | Memorial Art Gallery
• ArtAwake 2018 | Exhibition PREVIEW | Members Only | FREE
• Curating Your Collection | Main Street Arts Center | FREE
• Understanding & Collecting Ceramic Art | Flower City Arts Center | FREE
• ​Primer On Printmaking: Understanding & Collecting Fine Art Prints | RIT Bevier Gallery | FREE
• Think globally. Create, experience and collect locally | Rochester Contemporary Arts Center
• Living With Art: A splash of inspiration at home or at work - Part 2 | Rochester Brainery
• ​Info Presentation: Rochester Art Collectors Group at Anderson Alley - Session 2 | FREE
• Info Presentation: Rochester Art Collectors Group at Hungerford - Session 2 | FREE
• ​Info Presentation: Rochester Art Collectors Group at Anderson Alley - Session 1 | FREE
• Info Presentation: Rochester Art Collectors Group at Hungerford - Session 1 | FREE
• Collectors Preview: The Birth of the Universe | Members Only | FREE
• ​Collectors Circle | Makers Gallery | Members Only | FREE
• ​Living With Art: A splash of inspiration at home or at work - Part 1 | Rochester Brainery
• ​Kick-off Social Mixer for RochesterArtCollectors.org | Memorial Art Gallery - Brown Hound | FREE

Rochester Art Collectors in collaboration with Phillips Fine Art & Frame Gallery presents:

Date & Time: Thursday, January 10, 2019 at 6:30 pm

​Location: Phillips Fine Art & Frame Gallery

Hungerford Complex
1115 East Main Street - Door #9
​MAP LINK

Click here to reserve your tickets

​6:30 pm: Social/Mixer

Free light nibbles and drinks. Check out the "2019 Collectors Exhibition & Sale"

​
7:00 pm:  Presentation & discussion
Warren Phillips & Bleu Cease

"Refining or Reducing Your Collection Through Deaccession & Donation"

Topics to be covered...

• Are there opportunities to purchase choice works of art currently in the hands of other collectors in our area?
• How can I sell works from my collection that may be highly desireable to another collector but no longer fit my goals or my available exhbition/storage space?
• Can I donate a work of art to an art center or museum? What are the advantages and disadvantages of donating works of art to a non-profit organization?

Presenters:

Warren Phillips, art dealer and owner of Phillips Fine Art Framing, will look at the options for selling your artwork: retail consignment, DIY (ebay, craigslist, etc.), public auction, etc.

Bleu Cease, Executive Director & Curator at Rochester Contemporary, will talk about donating works of art to a museum or another non-profit institution.
​

>> This event is free and open to the public. You do not have to be a member of Rochester Art Collectors to participate. However, registration in advance is required. ​Click here to reserve your tickets<<


This event will take place unless Rochester City Schools are closed due to weather conditions.

by Jeanne Beck
​
Reprinted with permission from Owl Light News | Copyright 2018

   There is a growing interest in collecting original art works by regional artists.  Rochester Art Collectors started in 2017; its mission is to encourage more individuals to recognize the joys of collecting and help them become more knowledgeable and informed about regional art and artists.
   Spurring the development of this new organization are its co-founders Sarah Webb and Rome Celli, both dedicated collectors.
   Rome Celli, a local realtor, has been collecting art since he ran an urban art gallery in the 1980’s. He has long known what a wealth of artistic talent there is in Rochester and the 60-70 mile radius around it.
   As an avid collector, Rome became keenly aware of the need to expand the love of collecting. “I wanted to do something to support visual arts in the region,” he explains. “We certainly don’t lack for excellent and diverse artists in our area. What we do need are more collectors . That’s where Rochester Art Collectors comes in. We’re the gardeners who are sowing the seeds and providing the encouragement, education and exposure to help grow a host of strong new collectors who will love and appreciate what our regional artists have to offer.”

   Co-founder Sarah Webb is a long-time collector, exhibiting artist and author, university instructor and community arts volunteer.  Sarah has known Rome since they first worked together on the former Pyramid Center Board in the 1990’s. “When we ran into each other again in 2017 and I learned he was starting this organization, I knew I wanted to get involved.“
The two are building Rochester Art Collectors’ programs and events to help redefine both what a collector is and how to become one.  Rome frequently speaks to groups about collecting ; when he does, he asks people how many original works of art they have in their homes.  According to Rome, “If you own two pieces of original art, you are a collector!”  He and Sarah are excited about creating opportunities for people of all ages and interests to learn to trust their instincts and buy what they love.
Sarah says she likes to ask people, “What does it mean to live with art? “ She also offers advice to beginning collectors. “Notice what you are drawn to. Is it a specific subject matter or medium, for example? What makes you want to look, and look again?
“Once you take your first art work home, pay attention to what happens next. How does the new work commingle in your home? What happens when you pair it with something you already have; perhaps another formal piece of  art or perhaps a piece of driftwood that you picked up along the shores of Lake Ontario? How does that scraggly line in the artwork perhaps mimic the line of the horizon you see through your window? “
​

What is Rochester Art Collectors?

   ​​Rochester Art Collectors is a privately funded, independent, non-commercial group created to promote collecting all types and styles of art. This all-volunteer group is currently comprised of about 300 members who have a shared interest in building a strong, vibrant arts scene in the region.
Rochester Art Collectors does not provide information on the investment aspects of collecting; there are ample other resources for that.
Members of Rochester Art Collectors do get opportunities to meet other art enthusiasts, visit galleries, interact with and support artists, and learn more about collecting, types of collections and ways to get started.
Rochester Art Collectors does not represent artists and does not sell art.  It does not endorse or recommend any particular venues for purchasing art.  It does list venues where you can purchase art on its website and invites website visitors to suggest other venues that may not be listed.
The works you will see shared on the website are not for sale; they are owned by collectors and are there to give visitors to the website an idea of the range of types of art others are collecting in this area.
Members are occasionally invited to a tour of private collections. These tours tend to be very limited in size and offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
​

Recent Events

   In a recent event at Main Street Arts in Clifton Springs, gallery director and curator Bradley Butler led a discussion on curating. The event was called “Curating Your Collection” and paralleled the curating process at Main Street Arts to the curating that happens in your own personal art collection. “Bringing several different styles or types of art together on the walls of your home—perhaps around a single theme—can spark a meaningful dialogue and the whole is often greater than the sum of its parts. That is something I enjoy doing in group shows at Main Street Arts because it can make people see things differently.” Butler said. The group saw examples of past exhibitions that were high points for Main Street Arts as well as images of Butler’s own art collection

What are the benefits of joining Rochester Art Collectors?

​• Participate in building a strong, vibrant arts scene.
• Broaden your exposure to artists and artwork.
• Meet other art enthusiasts and collectors.
• Build your art collection.  • Interact with and support artists.
• Access to member-only information, services and content on this site.
• Access to member-only events and activities: Private tours, art exhibition previews
• Conversations about art with other collectors
• Participate in important decisions about the group.

Membership is FREE

If you would like to learn more about Rochester Art Collectors upcoming events, about buying and collecting art and if you’d like to meet others who share your interests, just go to: www.RochesterArtCollectors.org. Click on the “Join Rochester Art Collectors” button to get involved. It’s easy, it’s fun and it’s free!

    Jeanne Beck is a mixed media artist and owner of Jeanne Beck Art Gallery & Studio, 154 Mill St., Canandaigua, NY. The gallery features periodic regional guest artists, classes and workshops as well as original works. Open Wed 12-4:30, Thurs-Sat., 10-4:30. 585-704-6419.

   When RochesterArtCollectors.org launched its website unofficially in December, 2017 we set goals around what we wanted to accomplish and then took a shot in the dark designing the site.

   Before the organization's launch on April 1, 2018 we tweaked the website layout and much of the content adding pages describing the organization's mission and vision; plugging in a reservation system for our programs and adding a members only section.

   Over the past couple of months we have evaluated our results, considered feedback from members (as well as non-member users) and started to edit and update the site to better match our goals and the expressed needs/interests.  This process will be ongoing.

Here are some of the most recent updates:
​
HOME:

• Goal: Offer a quick introduction to the group, provide some examples of art work owned by collector-members, offer links to our social media and make it easy for first time visitors to navigate the site.

 

• Problem:  Too much clutter/information on our "HOME" page made it confusing for first time visitors.

 

• Solution:  We reduced the content on our landing page to the barest minimum; just enough to accomplish our goals. Everything else was either removed from the site entirely, moved to another page on the site or moved to a footer that can be found on every page 

SOURCES:

• Goal: Provide an easy to use list of sources to buy art in our area with some guidance around the types of venues that sell art and what collectors can expect when they walk in the door.

 

• Problem:  We could not easily update and re-sort the list to accommodate new sources or new information;
• Problem:  We initially listed sources by the type of venue (commercial gallery, non-profit, etc.). Users wanted to see a comprehensive listing of sources sorted alphabetically; and
• Problem:  Our members and non-member visitors want to see sources to buy art outside of Monroe County.
• Problem: Members and visitors wanted to see links to art-related events.

 

• Solution:  New technology was applied making it easier to identify the various sub-categories (using colors and an accordion-style drop down layout) as well as update and sort the information;
• Solution:  We added a master list of sources in the metro-Rochester area sorted alphabetically;
• Solution:  We have begun to add sources to buy art outside of Monroe County including the entire six county metro-Rochester area. In addition we have targeted an additional 15 counties outside the metro-Rochester region. Since our base of users and members focuses on the metro-Rochester area we separated out the metro-Rochester sources from sources outside of the metro-Rochester area;
• Solution: We added three sources for art-related events: First Friday Rochester, City Newspaper's event listings page and, a new online source, ArtShow.org.

RESOURCES:

• Goal:  To provide members and visitors with links to relevant resources and background information to support collecting art in our area.

 

• Problem:  We could not easily update and rearrange the list to accommodate new information;
• Problem:  Members & visitors wanted to see businesses like framers listed and business services like art appraisers, curators, etc.;
• Problem:  Members & visitors wanted to see at least one paragraph of description about businesses and business services; and
• Problem:  We were missing information about all the arts councils in our region.

 

• Solution:  New technology was applied making it easier to identify the various sub-categories as well as update and sort the lists;
• Solution: We added new sections to list businesses like framers, consultants like art appraisers, art curators, etc. and arts councils.
• Solution: We added one paragraph of description to the art services section to help members and visitors better understand the services provided by the various consultants.

EVENTS:

• Goal:  To provide members and visitors with a simple way to learn about our upcoming programs/events and then sign up to participate.

 

• Problem: We were missing information about our past programs and events. We want to give visitors information about the kinds of programs and events we like to do.

 

• Solution: We added a list of all the programs we have offered since the organization was launched

NEWS:

• Goal:  To provide members and visitors with stories about topics related to collecting art in our area and the organization.  NO SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES.

ABOUT:

• Goal:  To provide members and visitors with all the background information about the organization necessary to understand who we are, what we want to do/accomplish and where we are going.  NO SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES.

#ROCTHEART:

• Goal:  This page was created to connect our social media campaign (#ROCtheArt on Instagram) to the website and to the organization as a whole.

 

• Problem: The volume of participation was outstripping the our server's capacity to display all the qualified postings.

 

• Solution:  We edited down the number of postings on this page. Now we more carefully curate the posts featured. We try to include a greater number of participants and a wider sampling of works rather than trying to include all postings from all participants.

CONTACT:

• Goal:  Provide a very simple tool for members and visitors to reach us. NO SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES.

   We are still working on revisions and upgrades in our "members only" section. More on this in a future post.

   On Tuesday, October 23rd at 6:30 pm we held our second "Collectors Circle" program. This one was held at Oxford Gallery.  It was just as successful at the first one, held earlier in the year at Makers Gallery. 

The Collectors Circle program is open only to members and seating is limited to just 30 people. We like to gather in an exhibition space during a current show. Typically a special guest speaker is invited to present on a topic of interest to member-participants.

   The first 30 minutes of the program are are social . Members take some time to look at the work on exhibit; grab a bite and a sip while chatting with one another. Before too long we gather in a large circle. Each collector presents an original work of art from their collection to the group. Usually we hear a little background about the work and how the collector came to own it. Sometimes we hear why it's important to the owner's collection or why it's important to the collector or both.

   This time around we heard stories about works of art saved by relatives who were refugees fleeing Nazi's during the World War II era and later given to the collector. At one point the lights were dimmed so that we could all experience the luminescence of an Op-Art piece from the 80s. An early 20th century landscape was presented along with details about the painter and it's importance to the collector. We even saw a bronze casting of a disposable cup lid from a show in 2016; As you can tell there was a wide range of work!

  After the collectors presented their works of art we turned the floor over to Oxford Gallery owner, Jim Hall. He talked about the long history of Oxford Gallery. Established in the 1960s Oxford is the longest continuously running commercial gallery in Rochester. Jim and his wife, Ginny, have owned the gallery for 25 years. Oxford represents over 40 artist and exhibits their works on consignment - usually organized around exhibition themes - throughout the year. In addition, Jim is an active art dealer specializing in 19th century works. He closed his talk with a traditional definition of art collecting that prompted a lively discussion.  The group broke up around 8:30 pm.

  The next Collectors Circle will be held early in 2019. Details will be announced sometime after January 1, 2019.

    We are very pleased to announce Mark Harrington has become the 300th member of Rochester Art Collectors!

   It seems Mark was destined to appreciate and collect art. At the age of eight, without his parents knowledge, he rode his bike ten blocks to a local grocery store and bought a small oil painting of ducks in flight with his allowance. He gave that painting to his Mom. She kept it on her desk until she passed. It now hangs in his study in Pittsford. That was just the beginning..

   During his early school years Mark's interest in art intensified and his activities expanded to include collecting. ​In high school Mark became friends with the daughter of the curator at the McNay Art Institute. While attending a exhibition at the McNay Mark was introduced to Lita Albuquerque, whose work is in the Museum of Modern Art's permanent collection. Lita and her work made a lasting impression on Mark. Their friendship blossomed. While attending college in Austin Mark began collecting art with some regularity. He made a practice of visiting student art exhibitions, purchasing work that spoke to him along the way.

​   After business school while living in New York City in 1979 Mark became acquainted with Dorothy and Herb Vogel through Tom Armstrong, then curator of the Whitney Museum. The Vogels were two of the most remarkable people Mark had the pleasure of knowing. They were a fixture on the NYC art scene. ​The Vogels introduced Mark to important art dealers and taught him the ropes. Thanks to the Vogels he met Gracie Mansion at the opening of the first gallery exhibit of “graffiti art” created by Keith Haring and Jean Michel Basquiat.

   During their lifetimes the Dorothy and Herb Vogel amassed over 4,000 minimalist and conceptual works along with a fair number of abstract expressionist works. They built their massive collection on modest civil servants’ salaries. Herb worked in the Post Office and Dorothy worked as a librarian. They lived in a small two-bedroom walkup on 86th Street in Manhattan.  Ultimately their collection was bequeathed to 50 different museums: 50 works to each of 50 museums in 50 states.

    Harrington says, "The Vogels taught me the importance of getting to know the artist and seeing their work  progress over time. Most importantly, they stressed that if a work moved me, and it was the first thing I saw in my mind when I woke up, go buy it on the spot." As with the Vogels, I never have and never will sell any piece I buy. Investment value is unimportant to me. What matters is how my heart and soul respond. Herb said he never wanted to build a collection, it just happened. He taught me to think of each piece as a friend that lived with me.

by Jeanne Beck
​
Reprinted with permission from Owl Light News | Copyright 2018

  ​   To some people, the words “collector” or “art collection” seem like they describe those with great wealth who pay thousands and thousands of dollars to purchase art. But that’s much like thinking everyone who enjoys a game of basketball at the YMCA is an NBA player.

   Anyone can develop an interest in and appreciation for original works and start to build a collection slowly, over time.

​ Lauren Behelfer is definitely one who fits that category. A third generation jeweler in the family-owned Crown Jewelers in Downtown Canandaigua, Lauren works daily with color and design. In addition, she has always appreciated the visual arts, from the art classes she took in high school to her ongoing interest in photography.

   About 15 years ago she visited the Waterfront Art Festival, where she purchased a lithograph print. Lauren says. “It was a framed, signed and numbered print of a tree and I love trees.”

   However, with a busy life and career, Lauren didn’t purchase any other art works for a long time. “I’m not a person who goes to galleries or art openings,” Lauren explains.

   Then three years ago Crown Jewelers displayed works by one of the participating artist competitors in Canandaigua’s Plein Arts Competition & Festival. When she went to that first Preview Party & Awards Ceremony, she fell in love with a painting by Elena Babak. The artist had painted a scene of cows in a pasture with the sun rising behind them.  “The light and the scene spoke to me.  Plus I loved how the parts looked a little blurry close up but when you backed away the images truly started to look realistic.”

   Lauren returned to the festival for the second time last year. She decided she would only purchase a painting if it truly felt special to her.  And sure enough, a painting by Beth Bathe of a “creepy old house” in Naples, reputed to be haunted, captured her imagination. She bought it immediately. “I only buy when something really moves me and I am certain I will want to look at it for a long period of time.”

   This year, Lauren returned a third time to the 7th Annual Plein Air Festival Preview Party & Awards ceremony. Waiting in the long buffet line, she had the opportunity to chat with two artists. She talked to them about how the competition went for them this year as well as about the scenes they chose to paint.

   One of the artists was Yung Hong Zong, a watercolorist from Portland, Oregon. This was his third year attending the Plein Arts Competition & Festival.  She loved his painting of Grimes Glen and found out during their conversation that he had wanted to paint the scene the prior year, but ran out of time. This year he made sure he went to the creek early enough in the week to complete the painting. Lauren bought it right away.

   Lauren enjoys talking with artists before she makes a purchase.  Three years in a row the artists have told her the paintings she has felt most drawn to are their favorites as well.  She acts quickly when she sees one that feels special to her. She saw people walking around the festival display making notes in their catalogues but she took the “he who hesitates, loses” approach and made her decisions quickly.

   She will go to next year’s Plein Air Festival again. “These artists have such amazing talent. I may not call myself a collector, but I do appreciate beauty.”

   Even though Lauren doesn’t spend all her time searching out art works to purchase, she is building a growing collection of original art works that are meaningful to her. It gives her great happiness to look at them.  “I can see and enjoy all three every night because they’re all in my living room.”

   Even if Lauren never decides to consider herself a collector, she is purchasing original works of art, supporting the work and creativity of others – and filling that need we all have inside for beauty.

​ Jeanne Beck is a mixed media artist and owner of Jeanne Beck Art Gallery & Studio, 154 Mill St., Canandaigua, NY. The gallery features periodic regional guest artists, classes and workshops as well as original works. Open Wed 12-4:30, Thurs-Sat., 10-4:30. 585-704-6419.

   Rochester Art Collectors and the Memorial Art Gallery collaborated for several months on a program that took place last night at the MAG: "Lure Of The Local."  ​ The panel discussed the local/regional art market; characteristics and trends found in our area; and the resources available to collectors interested in buying art made in and around Rochester. 

​   Panelists included: Roslyn Baskt Goldman, a longstanding art adviser and art appraiser; Jessica Marten, Curator in Charge/Curator of American Art at the Memorial Art Gallery; Alex Gruttadaro, owner of Makers Gallery and working artist; and Rome Celli, representing Rochester Art Collectors. This was the second presentation in The Collecting Series at the Memorial Art Gallery. 

by Jeanne Beck
​
Reprinted with permission from Owl Light News | Copyright 2018

   ​​No matter how small or large your income is, you can become an art collector!

   Many art collectors say their first purchase happened almost without thought or planning.  They just saw a work they loved and bought it. Their pleasure in that piece led them to explore and add another piece…and then another one.

   Make it a goal to pick a work you love this month and find out all you can about the processes and medium the artist uses – and perhaps other artists working in a similar medium. If possible, purchase one piece by that artist, bring it home and place it somewhere you can see it and engage with it every day.

   Try getting to know more about an artist you really like. Visit their websites online to see their other works and artist statements.  You might even consider contacting them and setting up an appointment for a studio visit. You will enjoy it and learn so much; most regional artists are interesting and approachable people.

   ​This week I bought a new artwork called “Out with the Old,” by printmaker Pat Bacon. I was drawn to her images the minute I walked in the door of Main Street Arts in Clifton Springs on Saturday. The gallery director, Bradley Butler, was extremely helpful, explaining the photogravure process the artist uses to make her prints. The work I loved best was already sold, but Bradley showed me other pieces there just weren’t room for in the main gallery show.  I bought it and was able to bring it home the same day!

   Jeanne Beck is a mixed media artist and owner of Jeanne Beck Art Gallery & Studio, 154 Mill St., Canandaigua, NY. The gallery features periodic regional guest artists, classes and workshops as well as original works. Open Wed 12-4:30, Thurs-Sat., 10-4:30. 585-704-6419.

   When Mandi Antinucci became a member of Rochester Art Collectors on May 22nd she helped the group reach it's goal of 200 members more than one month ahead of it's June 30th goal. Not only that since she joined before June 30th Mandi will forever be known as a "Founding Member" of Rochester Art Collectors.

   Mandi is not only an avid art collector, she is an accomplished artist in her own right. Plus there's a history of art lovers in her family. Her grandfather, Robert Heaviside, collected extensively and served on the board of directors of the Everson Museum in Syracuse, New York.

   Mandi's collection includes both contemporary works as well as works from the 19th and 20th century. Her collection hangs throughout her home in Geneseo. 

​   Mandi teaches art in the Batavia City School District while her husband, Rob Antonucci, teaches art in the Geneseo Central School District. Both are practicing artists as well as collectors and teachers.

   Rochester Art Collectors is pleased to team up with The Print Club of Rochester and the Bevier Gallery at RIT for a fun event around prints and printmaking all in the context of the Print Club's annual juried exhibition, The presentation is titled: "A Primer On Printmaking: Understanding & Collecting Fine Art Prints"

   This presentation is ideal for someone who wants to learn the basics of printmaking from a collector's point of view and wants to see a wide ranging exhibition of fine art prints as well.

​   Location: Bevier Gallery
   James E. Booth Hall 7A
   73 Lomb Memorial Drive
   Rochester, New York, 14623
   Visitor parking available in lots E and F (Map below.)

   6:00pm until 6:30pm - Fun Social Mixer! Hang out in the wonderful Bevier Gallery at RIT. Take in The Print Club of Rochester's annual juried exhibition of fine art prints made by artists from around the region and around the world: "Political Impressions."  Work in this show will be for sale. Details about the show are below.

   6:30pm until 7:30pm - Here's what you will learn from the presentation:

• A listing and description of the various types of printmaking processes
• A descrtption of how prints are made using the various techniques
• Tips and tricks when buying/collecting prints

   Presenters:  Elizabeth Durand and Barb McPhail

   This event is free and open to the public.  There will be a special reserved seating section for those members of Rochester Art Collectors and The Print Club of Rochester who register for this event in advance.

                          CLICK HERE TO RESERVE YOUR SEAT AT THIS PRESENTATION

   Looking to printmaking’s long history as a vehicle for contentious dialog, Political Impressions will add another chapter in the tradition of artists such as William Hogarth, Thomas Nast, and Jean-Jacques Grandville who taught us ways to say what could not be said. This juried exhibition invites participants to examine current social and political issues through the use of symbolism and satire, wit and whimsy while avoiding anything too “on the nose.” Open to all printmaking methods and political persuasions this exhibition will be a diverse, playful, and thought-provoking experience of laughing through the tears in our turbulent world.

   Juror: Miranda K. Metcalf is the Director of Contemporary Prints and Drawings at Davidson Galleries in Seattle, WA. Davidson Galleries maintains the largest inventory of fine, original prints in the Northwest. In addition to holding of nearly 20,000 prints and works on paper ranging from the 15th to the 21st century, they hang new exhibits every month.

   Awards: Best in Show: $300, 2 Jurors Choice Awards: $100

===================================================================================

Thank yous...

​   Thanks to our presenters! Thanks as well to the Gallery Coordinator, Shane Durgee, and the staff at the Bevier Gallery. And, of course, thanks to the board of Directors of The Rochester Print Club and, in particular, Melissa Huang, who was the Rochester Print Club liaison with Rochester Art Collectors.

   On Friday, May 11th Rochester Contemporary Art Center and Rochester Art Collectors will co-present a community discussion that directly addresses the place of regional art, artists and audiences in the global marketplace of ideas.
​

​  The program will be held at RoCo during the Federico Solmi – The Good Samaritans exhibition that runs from April 6th through May 12th.

   The Good Samaritans is a solo exhibition comprised of several video installations by Italian artist Federico Solmi. His installations include different media such as video, drawings, mechanical sculptures and paintings. Solmi employs bright colors and a satirical aesthetic to portray a dystopian vision of our present-day society. The exhibition includes a new text about Solmi’s work by Larry Ossei-Mensah, an independent curator and cultural critic.

   Think globally. Create, experience and collect locally ​will be open to the public. The program will begin at 6:00 pm with a social/mixer and will run until about 7:30pm. 

Tickets for this program are $2/each but free for members of Rochester Contemporary Art Center and Rochester Art Collectors. Reservations are requested. Click here to get the details and your reserve your seat(s).

   Look for more collaboration between Rochester Art Collectors and Rochester Contemporary Art Center leading up to the massive 6x6 exhibition in June.

   Rochester Art Collectors announced today that the group will utilize social media outlets Instagram & Facebook to bring more attention to the art found in private collections in our community.

​   Collectors who use Instagram will be asked to periodically post an image of the art displayed in their home or office to those social media sites along with #ROCtheArt and @rochesterartcollectors. The images posted on Instagram and Facebook and marked with #ROCtheArt will be searchable on those sites.

   A curated selection of #ROCtheArt posts will be added to Rochester Art Collectors' website. If you type ROCtheArt.org into your browser you will go right to the page. You will also be able to find the #ROCtheArt page on RochesterArtCollectors.org's main menu.

   We want to be sure people who post images of their art collection also tag those images with the artists' names and @rochesterartcollectors so viewers will be able to see more of the artists' work and find the Rochester Art Collector's Instagram account.

Here's how it will work:
​
Post a photo of art from your collection created by someone other than yourself to Instagram.
Add #ROCtheArt in the comments
Tag @rochesterartcollectors so people can find us
And tag each artist so people can find the artists and buy their work!

   The organizers of Rochester Art Collectors are devoting the month of April to reaching out to various constituencies in the arts community around Rochester including both artists and gallerists.  When a new organization comes on the scene people are naturally curious and they usually have lots of questions. Rochester Art Collectors is providing opportunities to learn about the group and figure out how to fit in.

   Rochester Art Collectors organizers, Sarah Webb and Rome Celli have invited commercial gallery owners, managers and directors in the area to a meeting that will consider issues of special interest to gallerists. All the invited galleries have high quality exhibition spaces; a knowledgeable staff and well curated exhibition schedules putting them at the professional forefront of the Rochester Art Market.

   Celli and Webb will present information about Rochester Art Collectors to the assembled gallerists and answer questions about the group before opening up a conversation about the state of the art market in our area and ways to grow that market.

   Rochester Art Collectors believes thriving commercial art galleries are an essential ingredient in a successful art marketplace.  A vibrant array of commercial galleries encourages and nourishes a diverse community of collectors. A diverse community of collectors in turn encourages and nourishes the artists who live and work in our midst. In addition, strong commercial galleries provide artists with opportunities to ascend to the next level in their careers.

   Rochester Art Collectors' outreach efforts won't end in April. They will be ongoing over the course of the next year or more.

​​   Thanks to Rick & Robin Muto, owners of Axom Gallery at 176 Anderson Avenue in Rochester, for providing the group with a congenial space to meet and talk.

    Members of Rochester Art Collectors are invited to a special FREE preview for The Birth of the Universe exhibition at Flower City Arts Center this Thursday, April 5th.

   Members will  be treated to a special viewing of the exhibition BEFORE it opens to the public the next evening. Work in the exhibition will be available for sale during the preview.

                                       This is a Rochester Art Collectors "members-only" event.
                                                 Space is limited. Members may bring one guest.​
                                                                 Click here for your ticket(s).

​​   Ben Taylor's journey as a “thingmaker” (he doesn't like the word artist) began with Saturday classes at the Currier Museum of Art in Manchester, New Hampshire. In college he found his way to the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts in Maine, where he studied ceramics with Hall Riegger and sculpture with Gene Kloszewski. After graduating from Keene College he worked for a few months as an assistant to the school's Director, Fran Merritt.

   Ben studied conceptual art with Carl Florsheim at Temple University, where he received an MFA in sculpture. After graduation, he and his wife Evelyn joined the Peace Corps and spent two years in Afghanistan.

   Upon his return to the US he took a position as an instructor at Drury College in Springfield, Missouri, where he became interested in Zen meditation. He moved to Rochester in 1972 to join the Zen Center, and spent 25 years balancing career, family and volunteer work in refugee resettlement.

   In 1997 he began working on a series of black-and-white pen and ink drawings called The Birth of the Universe, some of which are being shown here. These large-scale original works (22.5"x30") will be available for sale.

​   This exhibition has been curated by Sally Wood Winslow.

   Rochester Art Collectors is collaborating with Susan Carmen-Duffy, owner of Create Art 4 Good at the Hungerford complex of buildings and artists, Richard Margolis and Colleen Buzzard, at Anderson Alley to inform local artists about Rochester Art Collectors, and and how it can be of service to them as makers.

   All presentations are open to the public and will cover the same material: an overview of Rochester Art Collectors’ mission, goals, future plans, and upcoming programs. We will review the www.rochesterartcollectors.org website, and be available to answer questions. Reservations are strongly encouraged.

   On March 22nd Rochester Art Collectors held it's very first "Collectors Circle."  This informal gathering was a chance for members  to share ideas, pick up a few tips and meet other collectors. 

Video provided by Rochester Art Collector member, Melissa Huang.

   We met at Makers Gallery and Studio for two reasons: 

   First, it's a great space to pick up some art, but also because we asked the proprietor, Alex Gruttadaro to discuss his curatorial philosophy as a commercial gallery. With over thirty people in attendance, our round table format morphed into a larger collectors circle!

   Here's how the evening went:

• ​6:30 ~ 7:00 pm people gathered and became acquainted.
• 7:00 pm Rochester Art Collectors co-organizer, Sarah Webb gave a brief overview.
• From 7:00 pm until 7:30 pm we went around the circle. Everyone introduced themselves, briefly discussed their background and interests. In addition, many of the participants presented small works of art to the group from their personal collection.
• At 7:30 pm, Alex Gruttadaro & his Makers Gallery partner, Zach Edwards, shared some background about Makers and their philosophy as gallerists.
• The event ended promptly at 8:00 pm, although most people lingered afterwards continuing conversations over coffee and cookies.

   This is a member-only activity. If you would like to be alerted to member-only activities, please click here and join us.

​   SAVE THE DATE: On Thursday, April 26th from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm WAYO 104.3 FM's Graphic Ear program will feature Rochester Art Collector co-organizer Rome Celli in the show's usual time slot.

​   Rome will share a little bit about his background and talk about his foray into fashion editorial photography and commercial fashion photography. He'll also introduce listeners to Rochester Art Collectors. As a special treat Rome will select some of his favorite tunes to play on the show. Questions from listeners for Rome may be sent by text during the show to 585-203-9296. So, tune in and send your questions!

Here are a few images from Rome Celli's photography portfolio:

​​   For approximately two and one-half years Graphic Ear, a one hour radio program on WAYO 104.3 FM hosted by local artist, Sabra Wood (a.k.a., Cat Clay) and supported at the control panel by Joey Palladino, has turned the microphone on Rochester's visual artists. The show airs every Thursday night at 6:00pm.

  Guest artists on the show are engaged by Wood in an extensive conversation about their background, their influences and, of course, their work.  Every so often they take a break from chatting to play one or two of the guest's favorite songs. The songs are often introduced with a brief description of why the music is important to the guest artist. Wood's questions are as insightful as the answers they provoke. She's always supportive of her subjects and yet she doesn't shy from tough questions. Listeners feel like they are being treated to a fly-on-the-wall experience listening to two friends talk about their favorite subjects. It's almost impossible to listen without feeling drawn in.

   Graphic Ear may well be the largest archive of recorded interviews with Rochester's visual artists in the known universe. More than 100 interviews with Rochester artists have been amassed and stored with the help of mixcloud.com. Collectors and other interested parties can listen to extensive conversations with artists at any time by visiting the Graphic Ear mixcloud .page and streaming to their heart's content..Users can save and "favorite" shows as they go along.

    The number of people helping to organize, manage and promote Rochester Art Collectors on a day-to-day basis has recently doubled to two. Sarah E. Webb joined Rome Celli as co-organizer effective March 5, 2018. She brings many rich and varied life experiences to her work with the organization.

   Sarah found out about Rochester Art Collectors from one of the organization's advisers, James Tabbi. She joined immediately after talking with Rome. Sarah has been supporting the group in the background ever since she joined.

   Sarah completed postgraduate work at Christie’s Education, London, before receiving her MFA from Visual Studies Workshop, Rochester, NY. She has been a collector, an independent curator, educator, and artist for almost three decades. Sarah has been fortunate to travel extensively, most recently to Marfa, TX and experience the work of Donald Judd and his contemporaries on site. 

   The many stitches of Sarah’s life have taken her from the artist’s studio to the yoga studio where she continues to create and to practice. She weaves her critical, visual and perceptual background into a unique environment for students to map and make meaning of their individual body’s stories and experiences. Webb teaches, mentors and co-leads teacher trainings with Erica Ebert in Webster, NY.

   Sarah grew up in Fairport, NY. She graduated from Connecticut College, continued her study of Art History in London, before finally returning to Rochester to obtain her MFA from Visual Studies Workshop. She's been active in the arts for many years initially as an artist and curator, and then later on as a supporter, patron and, of course, collector.

​   Rochester Art Collectors relies on a  team of volunteers to operate. Over time Sarah & Rome expect to grow the team to four or five covering program, marketing, and all other administrative duties. There is no plan to hire staff.

   You might run across an art exhibition while having a cup of coffee or getting your hair styled. The work intrigues you. You snap a couple of photos and jot down the artist's name. Sure, you're going to plug the information into a search engine. Hopefully, you'll find the artist's web page, Facebook page and maybe even their Instagram. That's a good start but it's not enough. Has the artist's work been reviewed? Has the artist been interviewed? Where can you find that information? In this series we highlight one of the resources found on RocheserArtColletors.org RESOURCES page.

   Wouldn't it be great if a local TV station conducted in-depth interviews of local artists and then posted all of the episodes online so you could easily search by tags and keywords? What? That's crazy talk! Why not ask for the moon? Okay, how about if there was an interactive map that pinpointed where each episode was recorded? You're killing me! What are the chances of that ever happening? Well, such a program exists. It's called Arts InFocus. WXXI produces it and you can use their searchable archive and interactive map right now.

   Arts InFocus is one of a handful of instantly accessible online archives for collectors to research local artists and better understand their work. You'll get a feel for an artist's background, hear a description of the artist's work given by the artist, and very often see a glimpse of where and how the work is made. All this can be done at  your convenience online.

   WXXI has produced this unique series since 2015. So far there are nearly 100 segments available to stream online.  You can search using database tags including  words like abstract, ceramics, glass, mural, painting, photography, sculpture, woodworking and many more. The segment archive preserves interviews with more than sixty visual artists and dozens more performing artists and organizations. Every week more are added.

​   Each pin on this truly remarkable map locates a subject interviewed for the WXXI Arts InFocus program. Click on a pin to see information about one of the subjects and either a link to their Arts InFocus interview segment or their website. In the upper left hand corner on the menu bar there's a white box. Click on the box to see the complete listing of subjects.

   Even it you've already heard something about Arts InFocus you may not know the show is a collaboration with more than 30 PBS stations across the country. They share content with each other to spotlight the amazing arts and cultural activities in their communities. One "master" version of the show is produced from the content provided by the participating stations for distribution to all the members. However, each station can edit their version so local content is highlighted.

​
   There are a number of MAJOR markets participating in the consortium including Boston and New York City along with numerous markets across New York State. In effect, artists highlighted in this show are often launched onto a statewide, regional or even national platform under the auspices of participating stations..Talk about great exposure!!

   Some updates to the local show are currently being discussed. In the future you may see the show's opening and closing taped on location rather than in a studio. By doing so the producer hopes to be able to tell more great local stories in the same amount of time.

                   CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE ARTS INFOCUS ARCHIVE OF EPISODES

   After just a few short weeks of reaching out to the Rochester community Rochester Art Collectors recently achieved a membership milestone when Morgan signed up on March 13th and became of our 100th member.

   Morgan found out about Rochester Art Collectors when she was tagged in a Facebook post on our page by a friend who knew she'd be interested in the group.

​    We asked Morgan to describe herself and this is what she wrote...

   ​Hi! I’m Morgan.  

   This picture collage pretty much sums up what I do and what I enjoy.

   ​I moved to Rochester about 11 years ago after traveling around Upstate NY, California and Delaware.  I have a degree in Art Therapy and Baking and Pastry Arts.  I currently find myself teaching bread production. When I'm not at work you can find me hiking in our local parks, taking waaaayy too many pictures, writing, creating, and generally having a good time…otherwise, I’m volunteering and trying to hone my sarcasm and wit.

   I think art is a constant companion in my life.  I don’t have one particular medium or genre that speaks to me.  I feel that art is mood altering and depending on the mood the artwork can speak to you in a myriad of ways.  From traveling, I’ve been fortunate to find that no matter the city or town I find myself in, there is beauty in one way, shape or form.  That beauty is at time found on city walls or quiet galleries. I look forward to seeing and speaking about our local art scene of which I could stand to know more about.  

   When I walk these cities streets I’m always grateful to have landed here in the city of Rochester.  Rochester is abundant with 4 necessities I require: Good People, Good Food/Cocktails, The Arts, and Good Parks.

   I am the proud owner of an ink painting by Jason Dorofy (@dorofyink & designbydorofy.com)  as well multiple ceramic pieces by Earl Jacobson, and copper fired artwork by Painting with Fire. I also own some of Linda Connor Cass' (@loudeesjewelry & etsy.com/shop/Loudees) work, some beautiful glass flowers from More Fire Studio (@morefireglassstudio & morefireglass.com) and I own a number of prints purchased at the Cornhill Arts Festival from Eric Dorris Designs (@ericdorrisdesigns & ericdorrisdesigns.com).

   On April 1st Rochester Art Collectors will officially launch. No fooling! February and March will be a period of testing, organizational development, preparation and gathrering momentum for the launch. Rochester Art Collectors is a privately funded, independent, non-commercial group organized to ​promote collecting the art created by artists from the metro Rochester region.

   The idea for Rochester Art Collectors was first discussed openly in the fall of 2017 around a table in Java's Cafe in downtown Rochester. Rome Celli, invited Bleu Cease, Derek Darling, Alex Gruttadaro and Shirley Dawson to talk about the idea of forming a group to promote local art collecting in Rochester. For nearly 90 minutes the assembled art aficionados bounced ideas around. From that conversation the nascent organization began to take on a misty shape.

   Throughout the balance of the fall and into the new year Rome met with many dozens of collectors, gallerists, artists, arts administrators, art educators, reporters, business people, and other interested parties. He developed a simple webiste (RochesrterArtCollectors.org) so that he could easily share the concept and the underlying philosophy with others. As new ideas came in he updated and revised the site to reflect an evolvoing notion of what could/should be accomplished. Eventually, the purpose of Rochester Art Collectors was expressed and basic goals established.

   Rochester Art Collectors wil host a series of fun socials for members and non-members. Larger public presentations at local venues will feature notable speakers on topics related to collecting. News and information about the local arts scene as it relates to collectors and collecting will be offerred on the website along with information and links to local venues to buy art as well as sources for researching local artists.

   Membership is free. Join before June 30, 2018 to become a "Founding Member." Members will be invited to more intmate gatherings where they can share work from their collection, hear speakers on more technical topics and share tips, tricks and trends with other members. Member-only artist studio visits and private tours of local collections will be offered. Members will have a opportunity to offer their opinions about group rograms, policies and other topics.

   Collaboration with other organizations and local businesses will also be a hallmark of the group's programming. So far Rochester Art Collectors' programs are in the works with the Rochester Brainery, Rochester Contemporary, Axom Gallery, Makers Gallery and others. Rome is scheduled to be interviewed on WAYO on February 27th and then again in April on two different programs.

   Keep an eye out for Rochester Art Collectors on social media like facebook and instagram. Later this year the group will sponsor "Collector's Eye." A series of local collectors will bring their vision of the arts to the group's social media outlets.

   Over the course of the next few weeks the group will announce its short term goals & programs for rest of 2018. In the meantime, be on the lookout for pre-launch events such as the first in a series of public presentations for new collectors at the Rochester Brainery on March 2nd (ten free tickets are on offer) and the first pre-launch social mixer at Brown Hound is planned for March 8th. A member-only event is scheduled for March 22 at Makers Gallery & Studio.

   There are some pretty easy ways to stay in touch with what's going on in the local arts scene. Our RESOURCES section gives you more than two dozen handy links that will not only keep you up-to-date but may help you fill in some of the gaps. A number of the sites connected by these links offer a treasure-trove of information in their archives. Every so often we'll highlight one of the resources so you can get to know what's on offer.

   Alan Singer came to Rochester decades ago to teach at Rochester Institute of Technology from the New York City area.  As a professor in the College of Imaging Arts and Science at RIT he offers students training and guidance on the business side of being an artist. He covers a wide range of essential skills from helping his students to verbally express the meaning contained in their work to building their curricula vitae and so much more. 

   Alan is a practicing professional artist as well as a teacher. His visual ideas are mostly expressed in printmaking, painting and digital art.  Alan’s art has been featured in museums such as the Everson in Syracuse, and the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. His work has also been featured in numerous solo and group exhibitions, primarily in the New York area. He and his wife, Anna Sears, make their home in Brighton.

   In 2010 after watching a long and steady decline in the coverage of the local arts scene Alan decided to offer a fresh perspective by writing his own blog. And so, The Visual Artworker: A Dialog About Contemporary Art In Western New York, was born.

   When you visit Alan's blog you'll find nearly 250 posts(!) dating back to 2010. A good chunk of the content covers local artists and the local arts scene. It has become a priceless archive for collectors and anyone else interested in learning about Rochester's vibrant arts community. As a bonus you'll be able to read his take on all manner of national and international artists, art exhibitions as well as many books on topics related to the arts. The range of information he covers is truly remarkable.

   To be clear, Alan is not only the author of a terrific arts blog he is also an accomplished graphic designer and a  published author. He and his brother, Paul, published a book about their father's work in 2017 titled, Arthur Singer: The Wildlife Art Of An American Master. It wasn't his first book and I doubt it will be his last. Busy guy, right? It boggles the mind!

   Rochester is exceptionally lucky to have an accomplished guy like Alan in our midst covering local artists. Do yourself a huge favor and dig into The Visual Artworker: A Dialog About Contemporary Art In Western New York. You'll learn a ton of great information!